Three Liability Planning Tips for Physicians that Anyone Can Use

Posted on: May 6th, 2015

Whether you are a physician or not, you probably know that the practice of medicine is a profession fraught with liability. It's not just medical malpractice claims either - employment related issues, careless business partners and employees, contractual obligations, and personal liabilities add to the risk assumed by a physician in private practice. Unfortunately, in our litigious society, these liability risks are not unique to physicians. Business owners, board members, real estate investors, and retirees need to protect themselves from a variety of liabilities too.

Below are three liability planning tips anyone - physicians and non-physicians alike - can use to protect their hard earned money.

Tip #1 - Insurance is the First Line of Defense Against Liability

Liability insurance is the first line of defense against a claim. Liability insurance provides a source of funds to pay legal fees as well as settlements or judgments. Types of insurance you should have in place include (as applicable):

Homeowner's insurance

Property and casualty insurance

Excess liability insurance (also known as "umbrella" insurance)

Automobile and other vehicle (motorcycle, boat, airplane) insurance

General business insurance

Professional liability insurance

Directors and officers insurance

Tip #2 - State Exemptions Protect a Variety of Personal Assets From Lawsuits

Each state has a set of laws and/or constitutional provisions that partially or completely exempt certain types of assets owned by residents from the claims of creditors. While these laws vary widely from state to state, in general you may be able to protect the following types of assets from a judgment entered against you under applicable state law:

Primary residence (referred to as "homestead" protection in some states)

Property co-owned with a spouse as "tenants by the entirety" (only available to married couples; and may only apply to real estate, not personal property, in some states)

Wages

Prepaid college plans

Section 529 plans

Disability insurance payments

Social Security benefits

Tip #3 - Business Entities Protect Business and Personal Assets From Lawsuits

Business entities include partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. Business owners need to mitigate the risks and liabilities associated with owning a business, and real estate investors need to mitigate the risks and liabilities associated with owning real estate, through the use of one or more entities. The right structure for your enterprise should take into consideration asset protection, income taxes, estate planning, retirement funding, and business succession goals.

Business entities can also be an effective tool for protecting your personal assets from lawsuits. In many states, assets held within a limited partnership or a limited liability company are protected from the personal creditors of an owner. In many cases, the personal creditors of an owner cannot step into the owner's shoes and take over the business. Instead, the creditor is limited to a "charging order" which only gives the creditor the rights of an assignee. In general this limits the creditor to receiving distributions from the entity if and when they are made.

Final Advice for Protecting Your Assets

Liability insurance, exemption planning, and business entities should be used together to create a multi-layered liability protection plan. Our firm is experienced with helping physicians, business owners, board members, real estate investors, and retirees create and--just as important--maintain a comprehensive liability protection plan. Please call our office if you have any questions about this type of planning.

This blog (hereafter referred to as "communication") is designed for general information only. The information presented in this communication should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of any type or form of attorney-client relationship. Readers of this communication are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding specific and individual legal issues and should not rely on any information contained herein regarding their specific situation. Circular 230 Notice: In accordance with Treasury regulations, any tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer or reader for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties or for promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein or in any link in this communication.